RW101’S Rare Whisky Apex 1000 Index closed 2015 up 14%, while the total value and volume of rare whisky bottles sold at auction in the UK in 2015 hit “record levels”.

In 2015, £9.56 million worth of rare whisky was sold at UK auctions, exceeding 2014’s £7.64m by 25%. Over 12 months 43,458 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky were sold in the UK on the open market, an increase of 28% (9,460) compared to 2014.

“The recent growth in the rare whisky market has exceeded all our forecasts,” said RW101 co-founder and former master distiller for The Macallan David Robertson.

RW101 notes a “staggering rise” in the value of Japanese whisky after its Karuizawa Index increased 75% in nine months, with bottles that originally sold for £350 12 months previous achieving more than £3,000 on the secondary market.

However, the firm claims these increases are “unsustainable” and that Karuizawa’s 6% decline in the last three months of the year is indicative of a “price correction” that will continue into 2016.

The Macallan retained its position as the most collectible Scotch whisky – that it, it is the number one traded distillery on a volume and value basis – accounting for nearly 10% of the market for all bottles sold and 23% of the total value.

Diageo’s Brora distillery remains at the top of RW101’s Investors’ Index as silent stills “remain the most significant target-pool of stock”. Rare Killyloch comes in second, moving up a significant three places from 2014.